Rotary spray head



March 17, 1964 Jesse J Cope/and Jack H. 0019 INVENTORS.

J. J. COPELAND ETAL 3,125,297-

ROTARY SPRAY HEAD Filed June; 28, 1961 United States Patent 3,125,297 ROTARY SPRAY HEAD Jesse J. Copeland and Jack H. Coe, Hanford, Caiif., assignors to Hitchcock Transportation Co., Hanford, Califi, a corporation of California Filed June 28, 1961, Ser. No. 120,437 3 Claims. (Cl. 239-461) This invention relates to a rotary spray head and more specifically to a rotary spray head adapted for securement to the discharge end of a fluid conduit to effect a rotary spray from the discharge end of the conduit.

The rotary spray head of the instant invention includes means for rotatably .mounting a rotary spray head on the discharge end of a fluid conduit in a manner whereby the rotary spray head may be propelled by means of the jet action of water being discharged therefrom in order to rotate the spray head about the longitudinal axis of the discharge end of the fluid conduit in order to create a rotary spray at the discharge end of the conduit. The rotary spray head attachment is primarily designed to assist in the cleaning of the interior of closed vessels, such as tanks, conduits and lines and is constructed in a manner whereby the maximum dimensions of the spray head attachment are maintained at a minimum thereby enabling the rotary spray head attachment to be secured to the discharge end of a fluid conduit and inserted into a substantially closed vessel through a relatively small access opening such as a discharge pipe for the vessel.

The main object of this invention is to provide a spray head for facilitating the cleaning of the interior of substantially closed vessels.

A further object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a rotary spray head attachment for the discharge end of a fluid conduit which may be utilized to discharge a rotary spray of water, cleaning fiuid, Wet steam or dry steam.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a rotary spray head attachment provided with means for discharging fluid under pressure in a manner in order to effect rotation of the rotary head of the spray head attachment in one direction and with the rotary spray head of the attachment being constructed in a manner whereby it may be reversed in position on the attachment in order that the spray head may be rotated in the opposite direction relative to .the attachment.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a rotary spray head attachment which will not'be adversely affected 'by heated fluid being discharged thereby.

A final object to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a reversible rotary spray head attachment which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the reversible rotary spray head attachment of the instant invention shown secured to the discharge end of a fluid conduit;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view on somewhat of an enlarged scale taken substantially upon a plane indicated by section line 2--2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view on somewhat of an enlarged scale taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 3-3 of FIGURE 1; and

3,125,297 Patented Mar. 17, 1964 ice FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the attachment illustrated in FIGURE 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the spray head attachment of the instant invention. The attachment 10 is shown secured to the discharge end of a fluid conduit 14 and it is to be understood that the discharge end of the conduit is externally threaded and threadly engaged with the threaded end portion 16 of the bore 18 which extends longitudinally through the mounting sleeve generally referred to by reference numeral 20. A first pair of annular bearing surfaces 22 and 24 are formed on the exterior of the sleeve and it will be noted that the bearing surfaces 22 and 24 are spaced longitudinally of the sleeve 20 with one being spaced longitudinally of the sleeve 20 from the inlet end thereof and the other disposed at the end of the sleeve 20 remote from the inlet end thereof. The mounting sleeve 20 also includes a radially extending annular shoulder 26 which defines a first thrust bearing surface and is disposed between the annular bearing surface 22 and the inlet end of the sleeve 20.

An elongated cylindrical rotary spray head generally referred to by reference numeral 28 is provided and has a longitudinal bore 30 formed therethrough. The rotary spray head 28 is provided with a centrally disposed inwardly opening annular recess 32 which is disposed between the opposite ends of the spray head thereby defining opposite end second annular bearing surfaces 34 and 36 at the opposite ends of the bore 30. The rotary spray head 28 is disposed on the sleeve 20 with the first and second bearing surfaces 22 and 24 and 34 and 36 disposed in sliding contacting relation with each other thereby journalling the spray head 28 on the mounting sleeve 20. The end of the bore 18 remote from the inlet end of the sleeve 16 is internally threaded as at 38 and a shank 40 having a shoulder 42 thereon is threadedly engaged in the bore 38. An annular thrust washer 44 is disposed on the shank 40 between the shoulder 42 and the end face 46 of the mounting sleeve 2% remote from the inlet end thereof. It will be noted that the end face '46 lies substantially in the same plane as the corresponding end face 4% of the rotary spray head 28. The shank portion 40 is threadedly engaged in the threaded portion 38 of the bore 18 and the thrust washer 44 is utilized as a bearing between the shoulder 42 and the end face 48.

The rotary spray head 28 includes a plurality of jet outlet bores or openings 50 and 52 which communicate the exterior of the rotary spray head 28 with the annular recess 32. The mounting sleeve 20 has a plurality of openings 54 formed therein communicating the bore 18 with the recess 32 whereby fluid admitted into the mounting sleeve 20 will be discharged through the openings 54 and into the recess 32 and thereafter outwardly of the bores 50 and 52 in order to effect a rotary spray and rotation of the rotary spray head 28.

With attention now directed to FIGURE 2 of the drawings it may be observed that the openings 54 are equally circumferentially spaced about the mounting sleeve 20 and extend substantially radially thereof. Further, it may be observed that the bores 50 are equally circumferentially spaced about the rotary spray head 28 and are disposed in a plane passing along a diameter of the rotary spray head 28. In addition, these bores 50 open in a direction disposed at an angle to a radius of the axis of rotation of the spray head passing through the outer end of the bore and thus are inclined in a manner in order that the jet discharge of fluid from the rotary spray head 28 will effect rotation of the rotary spray head 28 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 2 of the drawings.

The bores 52 are also inclined in a similar manner to afford rotation of the rotary spray head 28, however, the bores 52 are also outwardly axially inclined in opposite directions.

It will be observed that the rotary spray head 28 and the mounting sleeve 20 are constructed in a manner whereby the shank 40 may be removed and the rotary spray head 28 may be reversed in position on the mounting sleeve 20 in order that the rotary spray head 28 may be rotated in the opposite direction relative to the mounting sleeve 20. In addition, it will be noted that the rotary spray head 28 is provided with a plurality of notches 56 defining departure surfaces 58 through which the bores 50 open. The departure surfaces 58 are disposed at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of the bores 50 whereby an even discharge of fluid is effected by these bores.

The rotary spray head attachment If) is constructed in a manner whereby its maximum diameter is maintained at a minimum thereby enabling the rotary spray head attachment to be readily inserted through limited diameter access openings affording access to the interior of vessels which are to be cleaned. Inasmuch as the bores 50 and 52 are equally circumferentially disposed about the rotary head 28, no vibration is effected by the jet action of the water being discharged from the rotary spray head 28 and the force of rotation effected by the discharge of fluid through the bores 50 and 52 is not effected by the water being impinged upon a deflecting surface but merely by the reaction effected in the direction opposite to the direction in which the fluid is being discharged from the bores 50 and 52. Further, since the bores 50 and 52 are circumferentially spaced about the rotary head 28, the latter does not effect a lateral thrust on the conduit to which it is secured. Therefore, the conduit may be flexible and still not have a tendency to whip around if allowed to hang free during operation of the rotary spray head attachment 10. Finally, the mounting sleeve and rotary head 28 are to be constructed of materials having generally the same rate of expansion in response to being heated whereby the rotary spray head attachment will be adapted to handle the high temperatures of steam without the moving part of the rotary spray attachment binding.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A reversible rotary spray head attachment adapted for securement to the discharge end of a fluid conduit and to effect a rotary spray from the discharge end of said conduit, said spray head attachment comprising an elongated mounting sleeve having a bore formed longitudinally therethrough, means on one end of said sleeve adapted for securement to the discharge end of a fluid conduit comprising an internally threaded diametrically enlarged end portion, a first pair of annular bearing surfaces formed on the exterior of the other end of said sleeve, one spaced longitudinally from the said one end of said sleeve and the other disposed at the other end of said sleeve, said bearing surfaces being spaced longitudinally of said sleeve and said sleeve being diametrically reduced between said bearing surfaces, an outwardly projecting annular shoulder on said sleeve defining a first thrust bearing surface and disposed between said one end of said sleeve and the annular bearing surface adjacent said one end, an elongated rotary spray head having a longitudinal bore formed therethrough and a centrally disposed inwardly opening annular recess formed in said bore disposed between opposite ends of said spray head thereby defining opposite end second annular bearing surfaces of the opposite ends of the last mentioned bore, said first and second annular bearing surfaces axially aligned and disposed in sliding contacting relation thereby journalling said spray head on said sleeve, the end of the first mentioned bore at said other end of said sleeve being internally threaded, a shouldered threaded shank member threadedly engaged in the last mentioned bore and an annular thrust washer on said shank between its shoulder portion and said other end of said sleeve defining an annular second thrust bearing surface confronting the adjacent end face of said cylindrical rotary spray head, said spray head including a plurality of jet outlet bores communicating said recess with the exterior of said spray head, and said mounting sleeve having a plurality of openings formed therein communicating the exterior of said sleeve between said first annular bearing surfaces with said first mentioned bore, the inner ends of said bores being disposed generally in the same plane extending at right angles to the axis of rotation of said spray head, some of said bores being circumferentially spaced about said spray head and being disposed in a plane passing along a diameter of said spray head, the other of said bores including outer end portions which are inclined outwardly and axially of said spray head, some of said other bores being outwardly inclined toward one end of said spray head and other of said other bores being outwardly inclined toward the other end of said spray head, said some bores opening outwardly in a direction disposed at an angle to radii of said spray head passing through the outer ends of said some bores.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the outer surfaces of said rotary spray head include portions through which said some bores open which are disposed in planes at right angles to the corresponding outer ends of said some bores.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said mounting sleeve and said rotary spray head are constructed of materials having substantially the same rates of expansion in response to being heated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 465,207 Russell Dec. 15, 1891 2,194,095 Noss Mar. 19, 1940 2,954,038 Girard Sept. 27, 1960 

1. A REVERSIBLE ROTARY SPRAY HEAD ATTACHMENT ADAPTED FOR SECUREMENT TO THE DISCHARGE END OF A FLUID CONDUIT AND TO EFFECT A ROTARY SPRAY FROM THE DISCHARGE END OF SAID CONDUIT, SAID SPRAY HEAD ATTACHMENT COMPRISING AN ELONGATED MOUNTING SLEEVE HAVING A BORE FORMED LONGITUDINALLY THERETHROUGH, MEANS ON ONE END OF SAID SLEEVE ADAPTED FOR SECUREMENT TO THE DISCHARGE END OF A FLUID CONDUIT COMPRISING AN INTERNALLY THREADED DIAMETRICALLY ENLARGED END PORTION, A FIRST PAIR OF ANNULAR BEARING SURFACES FORMED ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE OTHER END OF SAID SLEEVE, ONE SPACED LONGITUDINALLY FROM THE SAID ONE END OF SAID SLEEVE AND THE OTHER DISPOSED AT THE OTHER END OF SAID SLEEVE, SAID BEARING SURFACES BEING SPACED LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID SLEEVE AND SAID SLEEVE BEING DIAMETRICALLY REDUCED BETWEEN SAID BEARING SURFACES, AN OUTWARDLY PROJECTING ANNULAR SHOULDER ON SAID SLEEVE DEFINING A FIRST THRUST BEARING SURFACE AND DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID ONE END OF SAID SLEEVE AND THE ANNULAR BEARING SURFACE ADJACENT SAID ONE END, AN ELONGATED ROTARY SPRAY HEAD HAVING A LONGITUDINAL BORE FORMED THERETHROUGH AND A CENTRALLY DISPOSED INWARDLY OPENING ANNULAR RECESS FORMED IN SAID BORE DISPOSED BETWEEN OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID SPRAY HEAD THEREBY DEFINING OPPOSITE END SECOND ANNULAR BEARING SURFACES OF THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE LAST MENTIONED BORE, SAID FIRST AND SECOND ANNULAR BEARING SURFACES AXIALLY ALIGNED AND DISPOSED IN SLIDING CONTACTING RELATION THEREBY JOURNALLING SAID SPRAY HEAD ON SAID SLEEVE, THE END OF THE FIRST MENTIONED BORE AT SAID OTHER END OF SAID SLEEVE BEING INTERNALLY THREADED, A SHOULDERED THREADED SHANK MEMBER THREADEDLY ENGAGED IN THE LAST MENTIONED BORE AND AN ANNULAR THRUST WASHER ON SAID SHANK BETWEEN ITS SHOULDER PORTION AND SAID OTHER END OF SAID SLEEVE DEFINING AN ANNULAR SECOND THRUST BEARING SURFACE CONFRONTING THE ADJACENT END FACE OF SAID CYLINDRICAL ROTARY SPRAY HEAD, SAID SPRAY HEAD INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF JET OUTLET BORES COMMUNICATING SAID RECESS WITH THE EXTERIOR OF SAID SPRAY HEAD, AND SAID MOUNTING SLEEVE HAVING A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS FORMED THEREIN COMMUNICATING THE EXTERIOR OF SAID SLEEVE BETWEEN SAID FIRST ANNULAR BEARING SURFACES WITH SAID FIRST MENTIONED BORE, THE INNER ENDS OF SAID BORES BEING DISPOSED GENERALLY IN THE SAME PLANE EXTENDING AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID SPRAY HEAD, SOME OF SAID BORES BEING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED ABOUT SAID SPRAY HEAD AND BEING DISPOSED IN A PLANE PASSING ALONG A DIAMETER OF SAID SPRAY HEAD, THE OTHER OF SAID BORES INCLUDING OUTER END PORTIONS WHICH ARE INCLINED OUTWARDLY AND AXIALLY OF SAID SPRAY HEAD, SOME OF SAID OTHER BORES BEING OUTWARDLY INCLINED TOWARD ONE END OF SAID SPRAY HEAD AND OTHER OF SAID OTHER BORES BEING OUTWARDLY INCLINED TOWARD THE OTHER END OF SAID SPRAY HEAD, SAID SOME BORES OPENING OUTWARDLY IN A DIRECTION DISPOSED AT AN ANGLE TO RADII OF SAID SPRAY HEAD PASSING THROUGH THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID SOME BORES. 